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A salamander is an amphibian with a slender body and a long tail. They are related to frogs and toads. Salamanders look rather like lizards. But unlike lizards, they are covered with smooth, shiny skin. There are about 400 species, or kinds, of salamander. They include newts and mud puppies.

Resembling small lizards, salamanders are a group of tailed amphibians that are related to frogs. Of more than 6,500 existing species of amphibians, salamanders, and newts total more than 400 living species. They represent some of the most fantastic and diverse forms of life on Earth. Although they may look like lizards, salamanders are actually quite different from these reptiles. For instance, the skin of salamanders does not have scales, and their feet lack claws. Typical of amphibians, salamanders have very smooth, moist skin, which has the ability to absorb oxygen and water.